It's not a bad way to finish a career - John Ferguson - is now based
in Paris as the head of public affairs for the Aga Khan Development
Network
http://www.canada.com/national/national ... story.html?
BARRY CRITCHLEY
off The Record
Financial Post
It's not a bad way to finish a career.
----------------------------
John Ferguson, who started in this business (at one stage he was the
economics correspondent for the Southam chain of newspapers) before
moving into public affairs (where he ran the show at Canada Post and
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce), is now based in Paris as the head
of public affairs for the Aga Khan Development Network, the world's
largest private development corporation.
"It was a wonderful opportunity that was given to me in the last phase
of my professional career," said Ferguson, who moved to London in the
latter part of last year for another job when he got the call to find
out if he was interested in the Paris-based job.
"It was too good to pass up. It is one of the most dynamic organizations you would like to see," said Ferguson, who, prior to this position, was working in London with the Association of Chartered Certified
Accountants.
In his new job, Ferguson is involved in all forms of public affairs and communication - "basically getting the message out," he said, noting
his group is "fairly lean at head office. Most of the strength is in the
field."
The Network is involved in about 30 countries, mostly from the
developing world. And it's large, "bigger than UNESCO," said Ferguson,
who is now on a getting-to know-the-organization tour that in the past week has taken him to Washington, Houston, Geneva and Cairo.
The Aga Khan Development Network is a group of development agencies
working in health, education, culture and rural and economic
development, primarily in Asia and Africa.
The Network consists of eight agencies: Aga Khan Foundation; Aga Khan
Education Services; Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development; Aga Khan
Health Services; Aga Khan Planning and Building Services; Aga Khan
Trust for Culture; Aga Khan University and the University of Central Asia.
Many of the resources to fund those activities come from the West,
including Canada. There's no great surprise there given that a number
of Ismailis chose this country after Uganda expelled its Asian population
in the early 1970s.
"They are major donors and a major part of the Ismaili global
network," said Ferguson, noting about 75,000 Ismailis call Canada home. Firoz Rasul, one of the founders of Ballard Power Systems Inc., is the
current president of the Ismaili Council of Canada.
And there are big plans for the network in Canada: Four buildings (two
in Toronto and two in Ottawa) are being built. One of the Ottawa
buildings is the Global Centre for Pluralism, which is being developed
in partnership with the federal government. "His Highness is a huge
proponent on Canadian policy on multiculturalism. He has said that Canada is the world model for pluralism."
The Network is overseen by Aga Khan IV, who has been in charge since
1957. Known officially as the IMAM, Aga Khan operates at the highest
levels: His calling cards include presidents, prime ministers and
heads of international organizations.
"I have never met anybody like him. He has been doing it for 47 years.
He has a fascinating perspective with an amazing range of knowledge
and experience," said Ferguson, who noted the Aga Khan personally funds
the overhead required to operate the network's activities.
"And he gets involved in running things. It's an amazing story about a
private development agency that is having a real impact on parts of
the world that are unfamiliar to many people," Ferguson said.
bcritchley@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(c) National Post 2005